Over 500 attendees from 53 countries gathered in Philadelphia for the annual WTCA Global Business Forum.
The World Trade Centers Association concluded its 56th annual Global Business Forum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 19 to 22, 2026, marking the event’s return to the United States after nearly a decade.
The four-day forum drew more than 500 attendees representing 116 World Trade Center businesses across 53 countries and territories, including over 200 business delegates participating both in person and virtually.
Leaders from business, government, academia and international organisations convened under the theme “Historic Foundations, Future Collaborations: Cultivating New Business Frontiers,” with programming centred on cross-border trade, investment and partnership building.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Ambassador Xie Feng of the People’s Republic of China and former US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen. A panel discussion on the role of culture in economic growth featured Basketball Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Julius Erving, Pennsylvania State Representative Jordan Harris and WTCGP President and CEO Thomas Young. The forum also marked the launch of the UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026, an open innovation initiative seeking scalable solutions across sectors including renewable energy, sustainable food systems and green maritime transport, with applications open until June 19, 2026. The 57th annual Global Business Forum is scheduled to take place from April 4 to 7, 2027, hosted by World Trade Center Binh Duong New City in Vietnam.
Source: Business Standard
